Your doctor will recommend a biopsy in order to examine breast tissue or cells that may be abnormal. In a biopsy, a small piece of breast tissue is removed and examined for signs of cancer. Please remember that 85 percent of all breast lumps are non-cancerous. If your doctor is recommending a biopsy, it does not mean he or she is certain it is breast cancer-most biopsies come back negative for breast cancer. Learn more about breast cancer.

Minimally invasive breast cancer biopsies

At MedStar Franklin Square, we strive to perform all breast biopsies in a minimally invasive fashion, reducing risk of infection, recovery time and scarring. Your doctor will discuss each biopsy with you and if you are a good candidate for a minimally invasive breast biopsy.

On this page, we describe different types of breast biopsies:

• Ultrasound-guided biopsy
• Stereotactic biopsy

Ultrasound-guided biopsy

Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the breast uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the breast. Your doctor will use this image to guide the procedure. This type of breast biopsy can investigate suspicious findings after a physical examination or mammogram.

What to expect

1. An ultrasound-guided biopsy is minimally invasive, which means that as little of the breast tissue is removed as possible through a skin incision less than a quarter inch long.
2. You are fully awake and on your back during the procedure.
3. Your doctor numbs the breast with local anesthetic and uses ultrasound technology in order to guide a hollow needle to the site of the tumor or mass.
4. Several samples of breast tissue are removed and later analyzed by a breast pathologist, who can determine if the cells show signs of cancer

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or have other medical conditions prior to having an ultrasound-guided biopsy. Discomfort or temporary bruising or swelling because of this procedure can be relieved with cold packs and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Read an article from our health library about breast biopsies.

Stereotactic biopsy

Stereotactic biopsy of the breast uses radiation (X-rays) in order to direct your doctor where to remove tissue for examination. This procedure is frequently used when a small growth in the breast or calcifications are seen in a mammogram and need to be investigated further. (Calcifications are points of calcium build-up in the breast. If many irregularly shaped or sized calcifications are bunched together, it may indicate cancer.)

What to expect

1. Stereotactic biopsy is minimally invasive, which means that your doctor will use a hollow needle passed through a small (<1/4" long) incision to remove pieces of breast tissue from the abnormal area. You will be fully awake during the procedure, and the breast will be numbed using a local anesthetic. Stereotactic biopsy is usually done from underneath, so you will lie face down on a special examination table with openings to allow the breast to hang through.
2. A mammography machine finds the exact point for biopsy using X-rays and computerized calculations. Using this technology, your doctor will insert a hollow needle through the skin, move it directly to the abnormality and remove several samples of breast tissue.

Tell your doctor if you are or suspect that you are pregnant; pregnant women should minimize their exposure to X-rays. Discomfort or temporary bruising or swelling can be relieved with cold packs and over-the-counter pain relievers.

To make an appointment, or find out more about The Breast Center, please call 443-777-6500.